Day: August 17, 2022

Freehold, Monmouth County

Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Marks Overdose Awareness Day with Remembrance Display

FREEHOLD, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A sea of small purple flags will adorn the grass along the front entrance to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office for the rest of the month, leading up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, with each flag representing an individual lost due to a drug overdose in the county this year.  

“As overdose deaths rise to previously unthinkable levels, both here in Monmouth County and nationwide, it’s so vitally important to resist discouragement and continue to do absolutely everything in our power to mitigate the human toll of this epidemic,” Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said. “A big part of that is promoting remembrance: reminding our community that each person lost is not some nameless, faceless statistic, but a dynamic individual who leaves behind hopes, dreams, and friends and family members who remain devastated by their absence.”

Acting Prosecutor Linskey was joined earlier this week by Acting First Assistant Prosecutor Michael J. Wojciechowski, Acting Chief of Detectives John G. McCabe, Jr., additional colleagues, and community partners with the Prevention Coalition of Monmouth County for a remembrance ceremony, during which the flags were put into place. As of this week, thanks to the efforts of the Coalition, similar public displays will be in place in 43 of Monmouth County’s 53 municipalities.

A total of 79 people died due to a drug overdose in Monmouth County during the first half of 2022, according to statistics compiled by the New Jersey Coordinator for Addiction Responses and Enforcement Strategies (NJ CARES). An estimated 1,500 lives were lost in such fashion countywide from 2012 through 2021, with annual tolls rising from a low of 85 in 2013 to a high of 215 in 2018.

Those figures mirror statewide and national trends – New Jersey recorded a 10-year low of 1,223 overdose deaths in 2012, but that figure has since soared to over 3,000 in three of the last four full calendar years. Driving the trends has been the proliferation of increasingly deadly quantities of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be made quickly and cheaply, which often is found mixed with other narcotics that can exacerbate its dangerousness. Two milligrams of fentanyl, about the size and appearance of a few grains of salt, can be a fatal dose.

The Prosecutor’s Office has played a lead role in attacking the local opioid epidemic on multiple fronts; in 2014, Monmouth became just the second county in New Jersey to train all of its police officers on the use of naloxone, a nasally administered drug that works to quickly and safely reverse the effects of an overdose. Police officers in Monmouth County administered naloxone on more than 2,600 occasions from 2017 through the first quarter of 2022, with the overwhelming majority of deployments resulting in recipients going on to survive.

In 2020, with funds provided by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General NJ CARES Operation Helping Hand grant, MCPO announced the establishment of a 24/7 opioid dependency helpline, 833-OHH-CARE, which to this day remains staffed by recovery coaches from Recovery Advocates for the Shore (RAFTS) who link callers to treatment through CPC Behavioral Healthcare (CPC).

And earlier this year, MCPO hosted the first graduation ceremony for its newly established Recovery Diversion Program, an initiative that substitutes peer recovery and treatment services for nonviolent municipal court offenders, rather than traditional prosecution. Municipal defendants who successfully complete substance use treatment, maintain contact with their peer recovery coaches, and remain arrest-free are eligible to have their charges dismissed and expunged.

Monmouth County also remains an active participant in Project Medicine Drop, a New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs initiative through which citizens are invited to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription medication in safe, simple, anonymous fashion. There are currently about 30 drop boxes located countywide; for a full list of participating police departments that administer the initiative, go to https://mcponj.org/project-medicine-drop-off-locations-monmouth-county/.

“This epidemic didn’t develop from just one cause, and fixing it won’t be the result of just one solution,” Acting Prosecutor Linskey said. “We remain deeply committed to leveraging innovation toward addressing it from every conceivable angle.”

Manalapan, Monmouth County

Manalapan, NJ, Man Charged With $1Million Investment Scheme And Fraudulently Obtaining A $96K CARES Act Loan

 A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was charged today with defrauding victims in an investment fraud scheme out of at least $1 million, and with fraudulently obtaining a loan of approximately $96,000 meant to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Anthony Mastroianni Jr., 48, of Manalapan, New Jersey, charged in a five-count complaint with wire and mail fraud. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In 2016, Mastroianni consented to being permanently barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which prohibited him from acting as a broker or intermediary in securities transactions. Despite that debarment, from January 2017 to August 2022, Mastroianni defrauded victim investors, many of whom were senior citizens, by falsely and fraudulently claiming that he would generate large investment profits for them through his company, Global Business Development & Consulting Corp. Instead of investing the money as promised, Mastroianni used victim funds on personal expenses, including household rent, automobile payments, credit card bills, and cash withdrawals. Mastroianni defrauded 10 victims out of $1 million.

Mastroianni also exploited the ongoing global pandemic by submitting a false and fraudulent application to obtain $96,300 from a federal COVID-19 emergency relief loan meant for distressed small businesses. As with his investment fraud scheme, Mastroianni misused the loan proceeds to make personal purchases and cash withdrawals.

Each count of mail and wire fraud carries a maximum potential punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain caused by the offense.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Emily Sherman Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark

mastroianni.complaintDownload
Middlesex County, Plainsboro, South Brunswick

Man Charged in Sexual Assault of Woman on D & R Canal State Park, Near Plainsboro-South Brunswick Border

PLAINSBORO, NJ (MIDDLESEX)–Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, Chief Fred Tavener of the Plainsboro Police Department, and Chief Raymond Hayducka of the South Brunswick Police Department announce today, that a Raritan man has been charged in connection with an attack of a female victim that occurred in the area of Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick Townships on September 28, 2021.

An investigation determined that on September 28, 2021, between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.., an adult woman was walking on a path adjacent to the park when she was approached by an individual armed with a knife. The male dragged her into a wooded area, demanded money and forcibly sexually assaulted her. After an extensive investigation by members of law enforcement, including but not limited to the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Plainsboro Police Department, South Brunswick Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, and Raritan Borough Police, the male who attacked the victim was determined to be Rogelio Calyeca Postrero, 38, of Raritan, New Jersey.

Calyeca Postrero was charged with first-degree Kidnapping, two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, second-degree Sexual Assault, first-degree Robbery, third-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and fourth-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Calyeca Postrero is being held in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing on Friday, August 19, 2022.

On August 5, 2022, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office charged Calyeca Postrero with two counts of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault in connection with separate attacks that occurred in Bridgewater on July 18, 2021, and Franklin Township on May 16, 2022.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Christopher Pennisi of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at (732) 745-3600, Detective Patrick Miller of the Plainsboro Police Department at (609) 799-2333, or Detective Dominick DeLucia of the South Brunswick Police Department at (732) 329-4000. Tips may also be submitted to www.middlesextips.com .

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Calyeca Postrero are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Related MidJersey.News story here:

Authorities Are Investigating An Aggravated Sexual Assault In Area Of Delaware And Raritan Canal State Park Near Border Of Plainsboro And South Brunswick
Police Release Composite Photograph Of Aggravated Sexual Assault Suspect, That Occurred At The Delaware And Raritan Canal State Park On Border Of Plainsboro And South Brunswick
Aggravated Sexual Assault Suspect Being Sought; Similar Incident In Duke Island Park, Bridgewater
Mercer County, Trenton

Three Men Charged In Homicide Of Joshua Mcrae Of Trenton, NJ

August 17, 2022

This is a follow up to a story we brought you earlier in the week: Trenton, NJ Man Charged With Criminal Homicide And Other Related Charges In January 2020 Killing In Bristol, PA

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)—BRISTOL, PA—According to a 34-page Presentment from the Twentieth Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury that was unsealed by a judge earlier this week three Trenton area men have been charged in relation to the criminal homicide of Joshua J. Mcrae of Trenton, NJ on January 19, 2020.

In the Findings of Fact in the Presentment, on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at 1:45 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police Troopers responded to the area of I-295, mile marker 0.2, in Bristol Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania for the report of a body on the highway.

Upon arrival, responding troopers located the body on the east berm of the highway lying face down with his arms stretched over his head. The male was identified at Joshua Mcrae and pronounced deceased by responding emergency medical services prior to troopers arrival.

Pennsylvania State Police personnel secured the scene and observed what appeared to a bullet entry wound on Joshua Mcrae’s left side near his rib cage, Mcrae’s body was transported to the Bucks County Coroner’s Officer, where Dr. Ian Hood performed an autopsy in the presence of Trooper Michael Gesualdo and Trooper Christopher Cleveland. Dr. Hood ruled Mcrae was shot five times and found four entry wounds on Mcrae’s left side and one in the center of his chest, which went through his heart. Dr. Hood ruled the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.

Pennsylvania State Police personnel interviewed witnesses and provided information placing Mcrae at Murphy’s Beef and Ale, located at 7525 Bristol Emilie Road in Levittown on January 18, 2020. Surveillance video from January 18, 2020 shows Mcrae arriving to the bar at 11:46 p.m. in a 2018 Toyota Highlander. The vehicle belonged to Mcrae’s girlfriend and Mcrae was seen using the vehicle earlier in the evening. The video shows Mcrae entering the bar though the back entrance at 11:50 p.m. accompanied by four other individuals identified as Bias Taquir Robinson, Taurien Jamar Corbin, Jerry Earl Robinson and Robert Shannon Christie.

While at Murphy’s on the evening of January 18 and into January 19, 2020, the video shows Mcrae speaking individually with Bias Robinson and Robert Christie outside of the bar. The video also shows Bias Robinson and Jerry Robinson meeting with an individual identified as Edward Seibert prior to leaving. Mcrae remains depicted on video at Murphy’s until 12:27 a.m. Surveillance video shows Bias Robinson and Jerry Robinson leaving Murphy’s parking lot in Bias Robinson’s vehicle. At approximately 12:30 a.m., Mcrae, Corbin, and Christie enter the front passenger seat, and Mcrae enters the rear passenger seat before video shows the vehicle leave Murphy’s

About 12:55 a.m., less than one hour prior to the discovery of Mcrae’s body on I-295, the Toyota Highlander with all three individuals returned to Murphy’s before leaving again. State Police recovered additional surveillance from various locations in New Jersey. The videos show the Toyota Hgihlander traveling to, and entering, Cunningham Alley across from 418 South Cook Avenue, Trenton, NJ at approximately 2:24 a.m. approximately 40 minutes after Mcrae’s body was found.

The video, which shows the Toyota Highlander on fire, also shows three individuals leave the alley on foot and walk up Cook Avenue. The Trenton Fire Department found the Highlander burned to a shell in Cunningham Alley approximately thirty minutes after the video shows the three people leaving the alley.

Based on clothing, phone records, and additional surveillance video, Sgt. Corby identified the three as Jerry Robinson, Taurien Corbin, and Robert Christie. Robinson was seen on video carrying a white plastic bag, and Corbin was seen carrying a black backpack.

Trenton surveillance video last shows Christie in the company of Jerry Robinson and Taurien Corbin at approximately 2:39 a.m. in the area of 724 Quinton Avenue, Trenton. Robinson and Corbin make their wa on foot to a Roadrunner Gas Station in Trenton where they are picked up by an Uber driver at 3:19 a.m.

Detective David Hanks of the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Detective Bureau testified that he received cell phone data and timing advance records from cell phone providers and used the records to track the location of the cell towers used to process communications and determine the locations of the cell phones belong to Jahua Mcrae, Taurien Corbin and Robert Christie.

The records show that cell phone devices initially traveled from Trenton to Levittown on January 18, 2020. The phone data confirm the men’s devices were in the vicinity of Murphy’s from approximately 11:50 p.m. January 18, to 12:50 a.m. on January 19. The detective pointed out that the phone data was consistent with the surveillance video from Murphy’s

Cell Data Records and Timing Advance Records show Mcrae’s Verizon device traveling in the direction of I-19 and ultimately coming to a stop at 1:22 a.m. just a few feet short of where police recovered Mcrae’s body. Mcrae’s T-Mobile device was also processing data in the same area at 1:23 a.m. Corbin and Christie’s devices also processed data in that area at the same time period.

Pennsylvania State Police recovered Mcrae’s Verizon device from the scene, but his T-Mobile device was not recovered. Detective Hanks testified the Cell Data Records and Timing Advance Records show Mcrae’s T-Mobile device traveled, along with Corbin’s and Christie’s devices, from the scene of the body to Trenton. The records corroborated that these mobile devices were processing data in the same time surveillance video shows Corbin Christi, and Jerry Robinson traveling from Cunningham Alley in Trenton at approximately 2:25 a.m. on January 19, 2020.

An anonymous witness testified that that Robert Christie shot and killed Joshua Mcrae in a vehicle occupied by Christie, Mcrae, Jerry Robinson and Corbin on Interstate 95 in Bristol Township. The witness testified Christie received a handgun from Corbin and used that weapon to shoot Mcrae. The witness stated that Robert Christie removed Mcrae’s body from the vehicle and left the body on the die of the highway. Robert Christie burned the vehicle in Trenton, NJ and left the scene with Jerry Robinson and Corbin. The witness stated that Corbin and Robinson left with the handgun Christie used to shoot Mcrae and with a cellphone belonging to the victim. Jerry Robinson and Corbin disposed of the phone in Trenton and Corbin disposed of the weapon in New York according to witness testimony.

The men have testified that claiming that they are not members their selves, but others may consider them Bloods gang members or “associates” of the Blood Street Gang, Nine Trey Blood.

A man who is a patron of Murphy’s would provide security for the bar and also sell or resell cellular devise testified he received $600.00 cash from Bias Robinson in exchange for a 250 gigabyte iPhone XS Max. The exchange was in the bar’s kitchen. He told police the money seemed counterfeit in part due to strange markings on it. He became angry and threw the money and confronted Bian Robinson over his concerns of the fake money. The man said he was not affiliated with the Blood gang but believed all the men who were with Mcrae that night were affiliated with the Blood gang.

The Twentieth Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury of January 13, 2022, recommended that the District Attorney for Bucks County institute appropriate criminal charges as recommended in the Presentment on the following charges:

Robert Shannon Christie

  1. Criminal Homicide – Victim-Joshua Mcrae
  2. Criminal Conspiracy
    • Co-conspirator Taurien Corbin
    • Co-conspirator Jerry Robinson
  3. Person Not To Possess Firearm
  4. Tampering with Physical Evidence.
    • Vehicle
    • Firearms(s)
  5. Flight to Avoid Apprehension
  6. Abuse of Corpse
    • Victim-Joshua Mcrae
  7. Possession of an Instrument of a Crime
  8. Hindering Apprehension

Taurien Corbin

  1. Person Not To Possess Firearm
  2. Unlawful Transfer of Firearm
    • To Robert Christie
  3. Tampering with Physical Evidence
    • Vehicle
    • Firearm(s)
  4. Abuse of Corpse
  5. Hindering Apprehension

Jerry Earl Robinson

  1. Tampering with Physical Evidence
    • Vehicle
    • Firearm(s)
  2. Abuse of Corpse
  3. Hindering Apprehension

Related MidJersey.news story here from August 15, 2022

Trenton, NJ Man Charged With Criminal Homicide And Other Related Charges In January 2020 Killing In Bristol, PA
Ewing, Ewing, Mercer County

4-Month-Old Infant Death At Private Daycare In Ewing Township Under Investigation

August 17, 2022

EWING TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Special Victims Unit and the Mercer County Homicide Task Force are investigating the death of Dominic Bowman Jr.  The Special Victims Unit was contacted by Ewing police on Monday, August 8, 2022, in regard to an unresponsive 4-month-old infant who was at a day care being run out of a private home on Theresa Street in Ewing.  The infant was taken to Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell, then transported to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where he died as a result of his injuries a few days later.  Dominic’s injuries included skull fractures and brain bleeding.

At this time, no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.  The matter was also reported to the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency as well as the state Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit.

According to the Gofundme for Dominic Bowman Jr. — “DJ” Organizer of the Gofund me is The Bowman Family 

Our hearts are heavy, and we are deeply saddened as our precious Dominic Bowman Jr, affectionately known as DJ, took his place in heaven today, 8/11/2022. DJ was just shy of turning 4 months old and the only child of Diamond Thompson and Dominic Bowman Sr.

DJ was being watched by someone who was trusted with his care when hours later, he was taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia unresponsive. Once at the hospital, it was learned that DJ suffered severe brain injuries. DJ was hospitalized for 3 days, and he ultimately succumbed to those injuries. Our family has hired an attorney to investigate exactly what happened to DJ, and we will not stop until we get all the answers.

This is a difficult time, as the family is mourning DJ’s untimely passing. We ask those of you with compassion and love in your heart to help DJ’s parents, Diamond Thompson and Dominic Bowman Sr., with the funeral and attorney expenses. We would like to raise $8000 for his final farewell. However, no amount is too small, and we are grateful for any donation.

Payments and donations will go to Family Funeral Home for DJ’s burial/arrangements. Any money remaining will be used to establish DJ’s Law and/or legal fees.

Mercer County, Trenton

Man Arrested With Ghost Gun, Heroin, In Trenton, NJ

August 17, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–According to Trenton Police on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, SCU Detectives observed a group loitering inside Roger Gardens. As Detectives were watching the group, one of the males (Maldon) continuously kept adjusting a large item in his waistband which appeared to be a handgun. The Detectives moved into investigate and Maldon was taken into custody without incident and the weapon was removed from his waistband. A search incidental to arrest revealed Maldon to also be in possession of CDS heroin. Maldon was conveyed to police headquarters and lodged on warrant complaints.

*All suspects/arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law*.

Arrestee: Danquai Maldon, 19-years-old

Charges:

#1: Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Ghost Gun)

#2: Possession of CDS (Heroin)

#3: Possession of CDS w/Intent to Distribute

#4: Possession of CDS w/Intent to Distribute w/in 500’ of Public Housing

#5: Possession of a Weapon during a CDS Offense

Danquai Maldon, 19
Mercer County, Trenton

Man Arrested With 9mm Semi-Automatic Handgun, Heroin, Oxycodone, Mushrooms and $500 Cash In Trenton

August 17, 2022

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police Detective Lieutenant Bethesda Stokes reported that Coolidge Avenue Officers observed Nieme Bradley, engaged in a hand-to-hand narcotics transaction. Bradley was stopped for further investigation and found to be in possession of a stolen 9MM semi-automatic handgun (stolen out of Trenton), two (2) ten (10) round magazines, twenty (20) standard ammunition rounds, a quantity of CDS heroin, a quantity of oxycodone, a quantity of psilocybin (mushrooms), and five hundred ($500.00) in assorted US Currency. Bradley was placed under arrest without further incident.

All suspects/arrestees are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

Nieme Bradley, 35
Burlington, Southampton

3-Alarm Fire At Mt. Holly Kawasaki Suzuki – Mt. Holly Motorsports

August 17, 2022

SOUTHHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–Firefighters were dispatched at 2:47 a.m. to 2044 Route 206 at Mt. Holly Kawasaki Suzuki known as Mt. Holly Motorsports. Multiple fire departments from all over Burlington County responded to the scene. The entire building is approximately 260 feet x 115 feet with a rear section measuring 115 feet by 80 feet that was on fire. It appears that the rear section was a total loss and the fire wall was holding and keeping the fire from spreading out of the rear section into the front section. It was reported that firefighters had four 2.5″ lines, two 2″ lines and 2 ladders in operation for the firefight.

The fire went to 3-Alarms before being brought under control. Firefighters and investigators are still on scene and not additional details are available.

According to NJ State Police the fire at Mt. Holly Motorsports was reported at 2:51 a.m. Multiple fire departments responded to the scene to extinguish the fire. The northbound lane of 206 remains closed that this time. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Photo sent into MidJersey.News